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CHAMPS ELYSEES COLT TOPS RECORD-BREAKING SALE

Wednesday's opening session of the Tattersalls December Foal Sale was barely an hour old when a CHAMPS ELYSEES colt set a first-day record of 160,000gns to a bid from Philipp Stauffenberg.

The colt was widely anticipated to be the day's leading light as a half-brother to Al Thakhira, winner of the Rockfel Stakes for Marco Botti in the days following the publication of the catalogue.

Offered in front of a packed ring, he duly attracted early interest from a host of pinhookers, among them Timmy Hyde, Tom and Ben Harris of Lordship Stud and Jimmy Murphy of Redpender Stud, before the hammer came down in favour of Stauffenberg, acting on behalf of a pinhooking partnership.

The price smashed the previous high of 70,000gns for the opening day - which was recorded in 2005 by a son of Singspiel.

"All being well, he will come back next autumn," said Stauffenberg.

"Obviously there is Al Thakhira on the page, but this colt is also a lovely individual. He is a good walker, strong and has scope. He was the pick of the day, and not only today - he is more of a Friday foal.

"We've used CHAMPS ELYSEES ourselves and are very keen on him. We also used DANSILI when he was cheaper and have a nice foal by CACIQUE, so we love that line."

The price represented a major touch for leading Australian stud Widden Farm, which paid 21,000gns for the colt's dam, Dahama, through Bruce Perry at last year's Tattersalls December Mares Sale.